GARETH GREEN FROM LLANDRINDOD WELLS ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD INDECENCY OFFENSES

In July 2022, a man from Llandrindod Wells, Gareth Green, faced the consequences of his involvement in the possession of indecent images of children. The court proceedings revealed that Green, aged 42, was not driven by sexual attraction to underage girls but was caught in a destructive cycle during the year 2021, which was exacerbated by declining mental health.

Green, residing on Temple Street in Llandrindod Wells, described feeling 'detached from reality' during the period when he committed these offenses. His offending spanned from March 11 to September 21, 2021. The court heard that Green experienced a sense of relief upon his arrest by police, which marked the end of his troubling behavior.

On September 22 of the previous year, police officers executed a search warrant at Green’s residence. During the search, they discovered 43 images of child pornography stored on his laptop. Green had previously admitted to three charges related to creating indecent images of children. Among the images found, nine were classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of harm, while one was Category B, and the remaining 33 fell into Category C.

During the hearing at Llandrindod Magistrates’ Court on July 6, prosecutor Stephen Davies detailed Green’s remorse, noting that the defendant expressed feelings of guilt to the police. Green reportedly told officers that he felt bad about his actions, was aware of their illegality, and clarified that he was not sexually attracted to children of that age. He also expressed regret for his conduct.

Following his arrest, Green sought help by reaching out to Stop It Now, a UK-wide charity dedicated to preventing child sexual abuse, and began working with a therapist.

In sentencing, Green received a six-month prison term for each of the Category A and Category B offenses, to be served consecutively, and an additional six months for the Category C offense, to be served concurrently. However, the court suspended the entire sentence for two years, considering his potential for rehabilitation.

Chair of the bench, Kathryn Silk, explained that the suspension was granted due to Green’s strong mitigation and the genuine prospect of reform. As part of his sentence, Green is required to attend 35 sessions of the Horizon rehabilitation program and complete 35 days of additional rehabilitation activities. He is also ordered to pay a surcharge of £156 and costs of £85.

Furthermore, Green will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years and must register as a sex offender for the same period, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions related to his conduct.